President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen highlighted three main areas of cooperation between the European Union and Uzbekistan that have been established in recent years. "Uzbekistan and Europe have come closer to each other in an unprecedented way," she said in her video address at the opening of the "European Economy Days in Uzbekistan" business forum.
Today, on November 6, the opening of the 2024 European Economy Days took place in Tashkent, organized by the European-Uzbekistan Economic Cooperation Association.
Over 300 representatives from government and business circles of Uzbekistan and the European Union attended the event's opening ceremony. In her video address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke about the three main directions of cooperation between the EU and Uzbekistan in recent years.
"For centuries, Uzbekistan has been the 'beating heart' of global trade. European traders came to Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva to buy clothes and ceramic goods.
They returned with stories about your luxurious palaces, charming landscapes, and vibrant culture. Today, Uzbekistan is seeking to open up to the world again.
In recent years, Uzbekistan and Europe have come closer to each other in an unprecedented way. I would like to give three examples:
The first is related to trade. Since 2021, we have opened European markets for Uzbek products. Uzbekistan's exports, particularly in the textile and metallurgy sectors, have been growing at a rapid pace. There is even greater potential for growth.
The second is in the field of investments. Through our 'Global Gateway' program, we support Uzbekistan’s goal of becoming more interconnected with the world. Together with our international partners, we are investing up to 10 billion euros in the Trans-Caspian corridor, which is the shortest and safest route from Europe to East Asia. It will allow connecting Europe and Central Asia in less than 15 days.
We are also working on connecting Uzbekistan to our satellite network to provide modern digital communication to the most remote regions of your country. Uzbekistan should be at the crossroads of our continents and at the center of our global connections.
The third example is that we are expanding our cooperation in strategic sectors. In April of this year, we signed an agreement on the supply chain of critical minerals," said Ursula von der Leyen.
The European Commission President also emphasized that supporting local production in Uzbekistan is one of the top priorities.
"We know that some investors are only interested in extracting raw materials, but we are not like that. We want to support the creation of local production with added value and jobs for the local population based on the highest standards. Because this is the best way to create more sustainable supply chains.
I hope that this economic forum will help establish new connections between our companies and turn new agreements into new business opportunities," she added.
